The Arcana

The Politia

Taking a deep breath I inhaled the old room's musty smell. My mind went back to my last minutes with Death. Did he know? Would he have told me? Just then a thought occurred to me. I looked back at the Lockewood man sitting in front of me with confusion.

"What is it Belle?" Not even thinking twice about the endearment my mind was already back at Death's tent when the man had attacked me...

"I'm guessing you weren't responsible for the attack on me back at Death's camp?" My tone was brooding but at the mention of an attack on my life Lockewood visibly piqued up. Answering slowly, "No Belle we almost did not catch you in time there is no possible way we could have gotten to you at Lord Death's Camp." I thought back to my encounter with the ratty man and a name popped back into my head.

"Sir Arulius Ballister."

At the mention of the name Lockewood sucked in a breath and was visibly shaken. Uh oh that wasn't good. Damn, can anything just go right in my life?

"I see you have heard of Him..." Lockewood's tone was full of disdain and I realized I was in a hell of a lot of trouble. I needed to know everything, I was so sick and tired of being the last person to know about these things. It wasn't fair.

"Tell me." 

"We should probably sit down for this, it might take awhile to explain everything." Lockewood exhaled loudly and then began to explain further.

"First of all I would like to let you know that everything that was said back in the cellar was for show."

"Excuse me?" This was a really big change in bolt inly personality but as well as an air in I'm that shifted and seemed different.

"I am not who you think I am, but I will elaborate later on that. I just need you to know that I am from the Politia and we are here to help you, not harm you."

"Uh huh yeah sure thats why you threatened me and Death back there."

Seeming that I had frustrated him he continued on now exasperated. "I was just putting on a show to disguise myself from the others. They believe I am someone that I am not and I'm really here to save you, believe me or not but that is my prerogative laid bare."

I decided to mull it over for a moment and I figured I had nothing to lose by listening to him and hearing him out and something inside me screamed to see the sincerity in his voice. So I nodded my head to let him know that he could keep talking and that I would listen.

"Well I guess I better start about who I am and what the Politia are. We are an ancient organization crafted to watch and chronicle every game in record light for the purpose and sole goal of knowledge for the future games."

"I masked myself with an enchanted charm to look like one of the members of this clan of Archanians who momentarily have a truce. Um we should also probably hurry with our conversation because it will only last for so long and I still need to get you to safety."

I nodded my head so that he knew I understood what he was saying and some of what he was saying was ringing a few bells coinciding with some bits of information I had heard from previous sources. 

"So in theory if everything you are telling me is the truth then in a sense you guys are like game keepers? You watch over the game people?"

Lockewood cracked a lop sided grin that instantly changed his face to becoming more handsome and I wondered momentarily if he had a wife or liver because for him I could see how it would be very easy for him to acquire one with his looks.

"No my fair maiden that would be The Fool's job and we try very hard not to step on his toes. Besides we are all human while you are what is known as supernatural beings." Again I was confused but I decided to not interrupt him again.